[idvusers] visualizing ascat swath data

• To: idvusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: [idvusers] visualizing ascat swath data
• From: Hein Zelle <hein.zelle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:20:46 +0100
• Mail-followup-to: idvusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dear IDV users,

I am trying to visualize ascat swath data in IDV.  The data is in NetCDF
format, and after a little preprocessing it opens correctly in IDV.  I
can show the left and right swaths correctly with a color shaded plan
view.  Our netcdf files are currently defined roughly like this:

dimensions x = 42 ;   (across_track)
           y = 1582 ; (along_track)

variables  wind_speed (x, y)
           wind_zonal (x, y)
           wind_meridional (x, y)
           time (x, y)
           lon (x, y)
           lat (x, y)

Things are a bit more complicated as the swath contains a left and a
right part, so I've split each data variable in a left and a right
part.

Our meteorologists would like to visualize time information with the
swaths as well.  Can anyone give some advice on how to approach this?
The initial idea is to draw lines perpendicular to the swath
(cross-track) with a time label.  I would need to plot lines from
lon(1,t),lat(1,t) to lon(42,t),lat(42,t) as the netcdf file has 42
across-track points.  Time indices would need to be selected every 10
minutes (roughly every 100th).  Can I do this within idv using a
formula, and is there a suitable plot format?  Or am I better off
pre-computing the locations and time strings for the labels, and
storing them in the file with the data?

Alternatively I could re-define the netcdf files to contain multiple
time steps (e.g. every 10 minutes), but this makes it difficult to
show a larger swath simultaneously.

Advice is much appreciated.
Kind regards and happy holidays,

     Hein Zelle



-- 

Dr. Hein Zelle
Advisor Meteorology & Oceanography

Tel:    +31 (0)527-242299
Fax:    +31 (0)527-242016
Email:  hein.zelle@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web:    www.bmtargoss.com

BMT ARGOSS
P.O. Box 61, 8325 ZH Vollenhove
Voorsterweg 28, 8316 PT Marknesse
The Netherlands

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